WT/MIN(24)/ST/8  
26 February  2024 
(24-1430) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR UDO JÜRGEN PHILIPP  
STATE SECRETARY AT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY  FOR 
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND CLIMATE ACTION  
GERMANY  
It is both an honour and a pleasure  for me to speak to you on behalf of Germany.  
 
Let me start by thanking DG Dr. Ngozi and the whole Secretariat for the excellent planning and 
preparation.  
 
And let me express my deep appreciation and gratitude to the host country  of this Ministerial 
Confer ence: The Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates. Thank you for your 
hospitality!  
 
The United Arab Emirates is an excellent place to host an international trade conference: Here at 
the shores of the Persian Gulf we are standing at a cross -road of global trade routes where 
orient meets occident and Global South meets the Global North.  
 
Abu Dhabi is not only a cross -road in the geographical sense. MC -13 is also at a cross -road of 
international trade policy,  even of globalization as such.  
 
Over the last years, the international rules -based trading system has been confronted with several 
challenges:  
 
We still feel the economic effects of the pandemic. And at the same time, geopolitical tensions have 
risen.  
 
Economic evidence tells us: The fragmentation  of the world economy is increasing. This goes hand 
in hand with formation of blocks, protectionism and subsidy races.  
 
But economic evidence also tells us: We all  will lose in a fragmented world economy.  
 
So it is time to turn the page  and to send out a message of hope, a message of joint efforts to 
overcome trenches and to ensure that trade is inclusive and serving all countries and their people – 
irrespective where they are on the globe.  
 
And that is what  this Ministerial Conference is all about:  
 
First of all , we need to fully restore the rule of law – and reject any "might is right " policies.  
 
That is why we need to deliver on our commitment to restore a fully functioning and accessible 
dispute settlemen t system by 2024 . This is what the world is expecting from us.  
 
Secondly, we need to start work on restoring a global Level Playing Field , notably for industrial 
subsidies.  
 
We need to prevent future trade distortions and ruinous subsidy -races, while recog nizing legitimate 
flexibilities for developing countries.  
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  Thirdly,  we need to bring the WTO rulebook in line with today 's digital and ecological challenges.  
 
On digital trade  that means that we must extend the e-commerce customs moratorium and thus 
avoid erecting new barriers to digital marketplaces.  
 
And along with this, we must further develop the e -commerce work programme – with a clear 
emphasis on the needs of developing countries.  Digital trade needs to remain open und inclusive!  
 
But the WTO also nee ds to confront today 's ecological challenges:  Global trade rules have to 
contribute to sustainability and well -being.  
 
This is why it is so important to conclude now the negotiations on the reduction of harmful 
fishery subsidies.  
 
Here in Abu Dhabi we are enjoying the hospitality of a country and a region which is a living 
example of the benefits of trade – the exchange of goods and services, ideas and people.  
 
Let us use the inspiration of this place – the "genius loci " – to restart a globalization which works for 
all trading nations, to re -establish and protect the founding principles of this Organization, which 
honour the primacy of law  and multilateral cooperation . 
 
Let us make this Ministerial Conference a moment of hope, and let us jointly find solutions to the 
benefit of all of us.  
 
__________